Sheath for a staysail of a boat

ABSTRACT

A sheath for a staysail of a sailing boat comprises two boltrope tunnels located on opposite sides of a passage for a stay. The sheath is assembled from a plurality of identical mating sections each of which defines one of the channels and part of the passage.

United States Patent [19] Bernard Dec. 23, 1975 SHEATH FOR A STAYSAIL OF A BOAT [76] Inventor: Bernard Bernard, 10, rue Saint Exupery, 43200 Roanne, France [22] Filed: Sept. 10, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 504,696

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 18, 1973 France 73.33850 [52] US. Cl. ll4/l05 [51] Int. Cl. B63H 9/08 [58] Field of Search 114/102, 104-109, 1 14/111-114 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Dowling 114/105 Lagerquist 114/105 Steam 114/105 Primary ExaminerTrygve M. Blix Assistant ExaminerStuart M. Goldstein Attorney, Agent, or Firml(arl F Ross; Herbert Dubno [57] ABSTRACT A sheath for a staysail of a sailing boat comprises two boltrope tunnels located on opposite sides of a passage for a stay. The sheath is assembled from a plurality of identical mating sections each of which defines one of the channels and part of the passage.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Dec.23, 1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,927,633

U.S. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,927,633

Sl-IEATH FOR A STAYSAIL2OF'A- BOAT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheath for a staysail of a boat. 1 v

2.'Description of the Prior Art r The jibs or forward sails of a sailing boat are supported 'by a stay connecting obliquely the deck to the mast and generally constituted by a steelrope under tension.

Usually the staysailis fixed to the stay by means of hanks'fixed to the boltrope of the sail. However,'the unhooking or rehooking of the hanks gives rise to a loss of time when changing the jib. I

To obviate this drawback, it has been proposed to apply to staysails the technique of the boltrope channel used for mainsails, by enclosing the stay and. the boltrope in a split sheath, of light metal or plastic material, which acts as a boltrope channel.

But, even with the usual stay sheaths, a change of jib still takes considerable time, of the order of several minutes, during which the boat remains without forward sails so that the speed of the boat is considerably reduced and drift increases. In fact, it is necessary to haul down the first jib, unhook its halyard point and rehook the halyard at the halyard point of the second jib, carry out simultaneously the change of sheet from one jib to the other, and finally hoist and set the second jib, while the first is set, then lower the first jib. However this solution-is disadvantageous from the streamline point of view. 7 1

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the presentinvention there is provided a sheath for a staysail, said sheath comprising a plurality of identical sections each having end portions, a center portion between the end portions, and a central plane. Each of these sections comprises means defining a channel provided with a slot and forming a boltrope tunnel, the channel being located on one side of the section, and clamp means on the opposite side of the section, said clamp means including first arms of afirst length at the end portion of the section, and second arms of a second length at the center portion of the section, the second arms being longer than the first arms and being located at a greater distance from said central plane of the section. Each section mates with an adjacent section, with the respective second arms of each section engaging on the first arms of the other section, the mating sections providing a passage for the stay and two boltropetunnels parallel to the passage. The passage is located between the tunnels and the axes of the passage and the tunnels lie in a common place.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a section for forming a sheath in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation showing part of a sheath, formed from several sections as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken on line IIIIII of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a section of an abutment for limiting longitudinalplay of the sheath;

FIG. 4A is a view similar to FIG. 4 but representing a modification thereof; and

FIG. 5 is an elevation of one half of a sheath entrance gate.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in the drawings, the sheath is formed of a series of identical injection-molded elongate sections 15, made, for example, of a polyamide having a very low friction coefficient. Each of these sections has, in the vicinity of one of its longitudinal edges, a longitudinal channel 16 forming a boltrope channel or tunnel which opens to the outside via a longitudinal slot 17. The longitudinal channel 16 is generally of horseshoe shape in cross-section and has, on either side of the slot 17, a flat edge 16a facing the base 17a of the channel 16. The slot extends over an angle a which is at most equal to 30.

The longitudinal side of the section 15 opposite that on which the slot 17 is located has, over a quarter of its length starting from each of its ends, a cylindrical profile 18 defined between opposed arms 19 which act as clamps. On its two outer faces, at the place where the arms 19 begin, the section has two triangular grooves 20. The arms 19'have substantially flat outer faces 21.

In the center portion of the element 15, which portion extends over half its length, the grooves 20 have been eliminated and the edges of the profile 18 are extended by two clamp arms 22 which are longer than the arms 19 and extend by a greater distance than the latter from the longitudinal center plane of the section. The arms 19 ,each have a flat inner surface which extends outwardly from a flat shoulder as is shown in FIG. 3; the arms 19 end in ribs 23 having the shape of hooks, the cross-section of which is complementary to that of the grooves 20.

In order to mount the sheath on a stay 6, a series of.

sections 15 are located alternately on opposite sides of the stay, as is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. More particularly, when one section 15a is in position, one of the ends of a section 15b is applied against the end of this section 154 and the section 15b is made to slide. The arms 22 of each of the sections are engaged over the arms 19 of other section, and the ribs 23 are engaged into the grooves 20 of the other section, to complete the profile. of the sheath as shown in FIG. 3. At the end of the movement, the edge of the arms 22 of the section 15b abut against that of the arms 22 of the section 15a. A section is then slid along the section 15b until it abuts against the section 15a.

When a sling is in position in the channel 16, it is in contact with the wall of the channel along a relatively weak surface. The flat edge 16a forms a sharp angle to promote holding of the boltrope, which permits giving to the angle a a low value, thus improving the safety of the assembly. The small surface of contact between the boltrope and the wall of the channel considerably facilitates the handling of the jib.

To change a jib, a boltrope 7b of the second jib 8b is introduced into the free channel 16, at the base of the sheath, and this jib is hoisted, the channel 16 at the top of the sheath being occupied by a boltrope 7a of the first jib 8a. Then the sheet is checked, and the halyard of the jib 8a is eased off, and those of the jib 8b are taken in until the latter jib is correctly set; in the course of this manoeuvre the sheath undergoes a rotation by 180, by the force exerted by the sails alone, so that the f second channel assumes the position"previously'oocu pied by the former and the sheath is positioned as shown in FIG. 3. There remains only to free completely the sheet of the jib 8a and to lower the jib to the deck.

At no time during the manoeuvre is the vessel without any forward sail. It therefore continues to progress normally.

The longitudinal play of the sheath on the stay 6 may be limited by two stops each fixed on the stay at one of the ends of the sheath. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 4 the stop is formed of two identical elements 24 and 24" the outer profile of which is cylindrical, the elements 24', 24"being joined together by screws 25 and defining a cylindrical recess 26 having a diameter equal to, or slightly less than, that of the stay 6. Tightening of the screws 25 fixes the stop in relation to the stay.

It is also possible to use a stop having an inner diameter greater than that of the stay (Fig. 4a) and to take up the play by wrapping adhesive fabric or adhesive tape 26a around the stay 6a until a diameter is obtained whichis slightly greater than the internal diameter of the stop, if necessary a split tube element being interposed between the stop and the adhesive fabric. in this manner the need to rebore the stop to the diameter of the stay is avoided and the presence of the adhesive fabric prevents any sliding.

FIG. shows an entrance gate intended to facilitate the introduction of the boltropes 7a and 7b into the channels 16. This gate is formed of two half shells 27' which are joined together by means of screws 28. These two half shells define, on their upper portion, a cavity 29 in which the bottom end of the sheath may be enclosed. An axial channel 30, which forms an extension of the channel provided in the sheath for the passage of the stay 6 opens into the cavity 29; further, two channels 31a and 31b which are connected with the channels 16, open axially into the cavity 29, the bases of the channels 31a, 31b opening out laterally to define openings 32a and 32b.

It is easy to introduce the boltropes 7a and 7b into the openings 32a and 32b of the gate to cause them to enter the channels 31a and 31b, and then the channels 16, by pulling on the halyards of the jibs.

What is claimed is: l. A sheath for a staysail, said sheath comprising a plurality of identical sections each having end portions, a center portion between the end portions, and a central plane, each said section comprising means defining a channel provided with a slot and forming a boltrope tunnel, said channel being located on one side of the section, and

clamp means on the opposite side of the section, said clamp means including first arms of a first length at the end portion of the section, and

LII

4 second arms of a second length at the center portion of the section, the second arms being longer than the first arms and being located at a greater distance from said central plane of the section, each said section mating with an adjacent section with the respective second arms of each section engaging on the first arms of the other section, said mating sections providing a passage for the stay and two boltrope tunnels parallel with the passage, with the passage being located between the tunnels and the axis of the passage and the tunnels lying in a common plane.

2. A sheath according to claim 1 further comprising hook portions at the ends of the second arms, and

means defining grooves on the outer face of the section adjacent the first arms, the grooves being of complementary shape to the hook portions, and the hook portions and grooves of mating sections being in mating engagement.

3. A sheath according to claim 1 wherein the channel of each said section is of substantially horse-shoe shape in cross-section, said channel comprising a base, said base facing the slot, and

flat edge portions, said flat edge portions lying on opposite sides of the slot and facing the base of the channel.

4. A sheath according to claim 1 in combination with an entrance gate, said gate comprising means defining a central channel arranged on the axis of the said passage of the sheath, and communicating with the said passage, and

means defining two side channels, each side channel communicating with a respective boltrope tunnel of the sheath, the side channels curving inwardly and opening laterally outwardly.

5. The combination according to claim 4 comprising two half-shells, said half-shells being fixed together to define said gate, said half-shells defining an upper cavity which encloses a lower portion of the sheath.

6. The combination according to claim 4 further comprising a stay, said stay extending through said passage of the sheath, and

stops, said stops being fixed to the stay adjacent the ends of the sheath.

7. The combination according to claim 6, wherein each of said stops comprises I two elements, said elements being joined together and defining a cylindrical recess, said stay extending through said recess.

8. The combination according to claim 7 wherein the diameter of the recess is larger than the diameter of the stay, the combination further comprising adhesive tape, said tape being wrapped around the stay to take up play between the stay and the cylindrical recess of the stops. 

1. A sheath for a staysail, said sheath comprising a plurality of identical sections each having end portions, a center portion between the end portions, and a central plane, each said section comprising means defining a channel provided with a slot and forming a boltrope tunnel, said channel being located on one side of the section, and clamp means on the opposite side of the section, said clamp means including first arms of a first length at the end portion of the section, and second arms of a second length at the center portion of the section, the second arms being longer than the first arms and being located at a greater distance from said central plane of the section, each said section mating with an adjacent section with the respective second arms of each section engaging on the first arms of the other section, said mating sections providing a passage for the stay and two boltrope tunnels parallel with the passage, with the passage being located between the tunnels and the axis of the passage and the tunnels lying in a common plane.
 2. A sheath according to claim 1 further comprising hook portions at the ends of the second arms, and means defining grooves on the outer face of the section adjacent the first arms, the grooves being of complementary shape to the hook portions, and the hook portions and grooves of mating sections being in mating engagement.
 3. A sheath according to claim 1 wherein the channel of each said section is of substantially horse-shoe shape in cross-section, said channel comprising a base, said base facing the slot, and flat edge portions, said flat edge portions lying on opposite sides of the slot and facing the base of the channel.
 4. A sheath according to claim 1 in combination with an entrance gate, said gate comprising means defining a central channel arranged on the axis of the said passage of the sheath, and communicating with the said passage, and means defining two side channels, each side channel communicating with a respective boltrope tunnel of the sheath, the side channels curving inwardly and opening laterallY outwardly.
 5. The combination according to claim 4 comprising two half-shells, said half-shells being fixed together to define said gate, said half-shells defining an upper cavity which encloses a lower portion of the sheath.
 6. The combination according to claim 4 further comprising a stay, said stay extending through said passage of the sheath, and stops, said stops being fixed to the stay adjacent the ends of the sheath.
 7. The combination according to claim 6, wherein each of said stops comprises two elements, said elements being joined together and defining a cylindrical recess, said stay extending through said recess.
 8. The combination according to claim 7 wherein the diameter of the recess is larger than the diameter of the stay, the combination further comprising adhesive tape, said tape being wrapped around the stay to take up play between the stay and the cylindrical recess of the stops. 